Performance Review: Wonder Man

The real you… It’s the sum of everything you’ve experienced. The loss, the joy. Sadness, heartbreak. Losing someone you love so much. Wanting something so badly, you could burst. Hurting someone you care about. Being hurt by those you love. That’s your life. That’s who you are. “Mirror up to nature.” That’s our job. When we share… our pain, our grief, our joy, the audience, less alone in theirs. We’re all less alone. 

BACKGROUND:

Marvel Television’s Wonder Man premieres on January 27th. All eight episodes will be available at 9 pm ET. The show was created by Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) and Andrew Guest (Hawkeye). Cretton also directs the first two episodes, and Guest has shared or solo writing credits on five of the eight episodes. As Guest detailed on a recent episode of The Official Marvel Podcast, the genesis for the show began percolating in late 2021/early 2022. Cretton, fresh off working with Sir Ben Kingsley on Shang-chi, wanted to tell another story with the character of Trevor Slattery, and Guest, having just wrapped Hawkeye, was talking to Marvel about a story centered on Simon Williams, who becomes the superhero known as Wonder Man in the comics. Slowly, together with Marvel’s Head of Television, Streaming, and Animation Brad Winderbaum, they came to realize that both of these stories could gel into the same show.

Thus, Wonder Man was born. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Watchmen) was cast in the titular role, and filming began in the spring of 2023 in Los Angeles. Filming was interrupted by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes later that year, and eventually concluded in early 2024. Zlatko Burić, X Mayo, and Arian Moayed (returning to the MCU for the third time as Agent Cleary from the Department of Damage Control) round out the main cast.

OPENING THOUGHTS:

Simon Williams is a struggling actor. He has just been fired from a guest-starring role on a long-running horror series, and comes home to find his girlfriend moving out of his apartment. Enter: Trevor Slattery, who is back in Los Angeles after years being held captive by the Mandarin. A chance meeting at a screening of the 1969 movie Midnight Cowboy begins an unlikely friendship, all while the Department of Damage Control (DODC), led by Agent Cleary, keeps a close eye on Simon, whom they suspect of being a super-powered individual. DODC is under pressure from the federal government to fill up the half-empty Supermax prison they built (last seen in She-Hulk as the holding location of Emil Blonsky/Abomination).

That is the set-up for Wonder-Man, and thanks to two wonderful performances by Abdul-Mateen II and Kingsley, the show is a huge success. Despite some clear references to past MCU projects, namely Iron Man 3 and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (and Ms. Marvel to a lesser extent), it is a true “Spotlight” series (the second MCU series after Echo to use that banner).

The chemistry between the two leads is palpable. The show is often funny (including two hilarious guest turns by actors playing themselves that I won’t spoil here), but really shines in the quieter, heartfelt scenes between Simon and Trevor.

SUPERLATIVES:

Inevitably, Wonder Man will be compared to two other recent series that take viewers inside the world of Hollywood: The Studio and The Franchise. The former is a satirical peek at the production process through the eyes of a major studio, and the latter is a satire of franchise/superhero filmmaking. Wonder Man actually beat both those shows into production. Still, due to its lengthy post-production time and a deliberate retooling by Marvel Television, it is the last one to air.

While the temptation is to view Wonder Man as derivative of these other shows, it is not. Wonder Man peels back the curtain on the isolation and loneliness that can haunt a struggling actor, and it is more sincere than either of its predecessors. On one side, you have Simon Williams, who has pushed away everyone who cares about him in pursuit of the big break that still eludes him. Opposite him, there is Trevor Slattery, a veteran actor with an infamous past and many regrets, looking for one last opportunity to make amends. The show invests the audience in their journey together- from auditions to self-tapes, from callbacks to wardrobe fittings, from the first week of filming to being profiled in the New York Times- in engaging and fun ways.

Trevor Slattery’s arc in the show concludes the unlikeliest trilogy for any character in the MCU in a more satisfying way than I could have imagined possible when he first appeared in Iron Man 3 thirteen years ago. The DODC is used more effectively as the antagonist in this show than in previous attempts (notably Ms. Marvel), and this marks Arian Moayed’s best turn as Agent Cleary. Every episode (save for one) opens with a flashback that helps flesh out the characters. The fourth episode, “Doorman”, is shot almost entirely in black-and-white and pulls an obscure Marvel character you’ve probably never heard of into the spotlight in maybe the funniest episode of the series.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT:

While I thoroughly enjoyed Wonder Man (I’ve now watched all eight episodes twice), it is not perfect, and I could see it not resonating with everyone. The fifth episode, “Found Footage”, is the show’s shortest and involves a side quest that feels a little unnecessary. The third episode, “Pacoima”, drags at times during extended scenes at a birthday party.

If you come to Marvel Television looking for superhero action scenes or larger-than-life villains, this is not the show for you. Or if you are anxious for a show that connects to the larger Multiverse Saga, you won’t find that in Wonder Man (the looming threat of DODC will potentially carry over into Spider-Man: Brand New Day, however).

THE FINAL WORD:

Wonder Man is another pleasant surprise in a string of pleasant surprises from Marvel Television, following in the footsteps of Agatha All Along and Ironheart, and it may be the best of the trio. The show takes full advantage of filming on location in Los Angeles. Cretton and the other directors (James Ponsoldt, Tiffany Johnson, and Stella Meghie each direct two as well) all frame shots to highlight the unique sights, sounds, and landscapes of Hollywood. But ultimately, this show belongs to Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Sir Ben Kingsley. It is a two-hander that lands among the upper echelon of Marvel Television and serves as a great kick-off to what should be a big 2026 for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I hope this is not the last we see of Wonder Man.

8.5/10

-Greg